Specific and Universal

Specific

Specific adjective - Of a particular or exact sort.
Usage example: we need a specific type of pen to sign the diplomas

Universal is an antonym for specific.

Universal

Universal adjective - Covering everything or all important points.
Usage example: the genius of Leonardo da Vinci was universal: he was an artist, an architect, an engineer, and a scientist, among other things

Specific is an antonym for universal in worldwide topic.

Both words in one sentence

  • Videogame / The Reconstruction Difficulty Levels: You can set them at the beginning of the game, though they aren't universal; they change specific things.
  • Film / Independence Day One must wonder how the alien civilization viewed the chuckling skull-and-crossbones — would it be too culturally specific to understand, or would it be something universal in ominous meaning?
  • These videos cover both LDS-specific beliefs, such as Eternal Families, as well as other videos focused on universal Christian beliefs such as the Atonement of Christ.
Cite this Source
Universal and Specific. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/specific/universal
Specific & Universal. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/specific/universal>.
Universal or Specific. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/specific/universal.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "specific" and "universal" have occurred on timeline